Metagenomic insights into the functional potential of non-sanitary landfill microbiomes in the Indian Himalayan region, highlighting key plastic degrading genes.

Solid waste management in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is a growing challenge, intensified by increasing population and tourism, which strain non-sanitary landfills. This study investigates microbial diversity and functional capabilities within these landfills using a high-throughput shotgun metagenomic approach. Physicochemical analysis revealed that the Manali and Mandi landfill sites were under heavy metal contamination and thermal stress.

Pd/C-catalyzed regiodivergent hydrocarboxylation and esterification of alkynes.

An unprecedented and highly reactive Pd/C catalytic system has been introduced for the regiodivergent hydrocarboxylation of terminal alkynes to selectively afford various acrylic and cinnamic acids employing oxalic acid as a CO source as well as a promoter for the formation of the active Pd-H complex. Herein, the formation of cinnamic acid is proposed to follow a unique anti-Markovnikov hydroiodination mechanism and the formation of acrylic acid might follow the traditional hydrocarboxylation pathway. Additionally, internal alkynes undergo hydrocarboxylation and carbonylative esterification with aliphatic alcohols to yield different α,β-unsaturated acids and esters respectively.

Titanium-Catalyzed Selective -Alkylation of Amines with Alcohols via Borrowing Hydrogen Methodology.

The -alkylation of amines with alcohols using earth-abundant and nonprecious metal catalysts has gained considerable attention in the pharmaceutical industry. We described titanium-catalyzed synthetic protocol for -alkylation of amines with alcohols via borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer reactions. The methodology enables the selective monoalkylation of various substituted (hetero)aromatic amines in good to excellent yields (up to 97% yield).

Gene flow drives genomic diversity in Asian Pikas distributed along the core and range-edge habitats in the Himalayas.

Studying the genetic variation among different species distributed across their core and range-edge habitats can provide valuable insights into how genetic variation changes across the species' distribution range. This information can be important for understanding local adaptation, as well as for conservation and management efforts. In this study, we have carried out genomic characterization of six species of Asian Pikas distributed along their core and range-edge habitats in the Himalayas.

Unveiling the role of emerging metagenomics for the examination of hypersaline environments.

Hypersaline ecosystems are distributed all over the globe. They are subjected to poly-extreme stresses and are inhabited by halophilic microorganisms possessing multiple adaptations. The halophiles have many biotechnological applications such as nutrient supplements, antioxidant synthesis, salt tolerant enzyme production, osmolyte synthesis, biofuel production, electricity generation etc.

Anisole hydrodeoxygenation over Ni-Co bimetallic catalyst: a combination of experimental, kinetic and DFT study.

Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of anisole was performed with a series of Ni and Co containing catalysts with different weight ratios on activated carbon (AC) for cyclohexanol production. The catalytic activities of various catalysts revealed that NiCo-AC was the best catalytic system. Structural analysis obtained from XRD, TPR, XPS, and TEM evidently demonstrates that NiCo-AC sample consists of a distorted metal alloy spinel structure and optimum particle size, enhancing its catalytic performance.

Recent advances in the discovery of potent RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors targeting viruses.

WHO has declared COVID-19 a pandemic, which has affected the whole world and has caused unprecedented social and economic disruption. Since the emergence of the disease, several druggable targets have been suggested including 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL), spike, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), and the papain-like protease (PL) computational approach. From the beginning, viral replication has been the main focus for any antiviral drug development for viral diseases, including HCV, influenza virus, zika virus, norovirus, measles, dengue virus, and coronaviruses.

Comparative genomics and physiological investigation supported safety, cold adaptation, efficient hydrolytic and plant growth-promoting potential of psychrotrophic Glutamicibacter arilaitensis LJH19, isolated from night-soil compost.

Background: Night-soil compost (NSC) has traditionally been conserving water and a source of organic manure in northwestern Himalaya. Lately, this traditional method is declining due to modernization, its unhygienic conditions, and social apprehensions. Reduction in the age-old traditional practice has led to excessive chemical fertilizers and water shortage in the eco-sensitive region.

Formic Acid-Driven Rapid and Green Anti-Markovnikov Hydrothiolation of Styrenes.

A novel formic acid-assisted rapid and efficient route for C-S bond construction via the thiol-ene reaction has been reported. Exclusively, the anti-Markovnikov product was obtained in good to excellent yield using the developed protocol. Various styrenes and thiols bearing different functionalities were well tolerated.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C(8)-H Functionalization of Quinolines via Simultaneous C-C and C-O Bond Formation: Direct Synthesis of Quinoline Derivatives with Antiplasmodial Potential.

Here, a facile and efficient protocol for the synthesis of 3-hydroxyquinolin-8-yl propanoates via Rh(III)-catalyzed C(8)-H activation of 2-substituted quinolines has been developed. The reaction proceeds via C(8)-H activation, functionalization with acrylates, followed by intramolecular migration of the oxygen atom from quinoline N-oxides to the acrylate moiety. In this approach, N-oxide plays a dual role of a traceless directing group as well as a source of an oxygen atom for hydroxylation.

Genome-Wide Transcriptional Profiling to Elucidate Key Candidates Involved in Bud Burst and Rattling Growth in a Subtropical Bamboo ().

Bamboo, one of the fastest growing plants, can be a promising model system to understand growth. The study provides an insight into the complex interplay between environmental signaling and cellular machineries governing initiation and persistence of growth in a subtropical bamboo (). Phenological and spatio-temporal transcriptome analysis of rhizome and shoot during the major vegetative developmental transitions of was performed to dissect factors governing growth.

Next Generation Sequencing Technologies: The Doorway to the Unexplored Genomics of Non-Model Plants.

Non-model plants i.e., the species which have one or all of the characters such as long life cycle, difficulty to grow in the laboratory or poor fecundity, have been schemed out of sequencing projects earlier, due to high running cost of Sanger sequencing.